Facsimile machine for use in combination with PC

ABSTRACT

In view of the fact that a limited storage area of a facsimile memory cannot store a large amount of data necessary to operate and manage the facsimile machine, a hard disk of a personal computer connected to the facsimile machine is used for storing such a large amount of data. For example, an application software needed for achieving a certain function of the facsimile machine is supplied from a service station managed by a manufacturer of the facsimile machine and is downloaded and installed in a hard disk of the personal computer. An example of the function is a scheduled/delayed transmission for scheduling a time of facsimile transmission at a specific time or after a certain period of time has passed. As far as the facsimile machine and the personal computer are connected, other kinds of data, such as help list data and facsimile transaction information, are stored in the hard disk of the personal computer.

This is a Division of application Ser. No. 08/749,964 filed Nov. 18,1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,598. The entire disclosure of the priorapplication(s) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a facsimile system having a facsimilemachine connected to an external data processing device, such as apersonal computer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. SHO-63-13391 and JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. HEI-6-98077 describe providingan interface (I/O port) to the facsimile machine allowing to connect thefacsimile machine to a personal computer (PC). Such a facsimile/PCcombination is convenient because the facsimile machine can be used as aterminal of the PC. The document data produced by the PC can be sent toa remote facsimile machine through the facsimile machine serving as theterminal. Also the data sent from the remote facsimile machine can bereceived and stored in the memory of the PC via the facsimile machineserving as the terminal.

Facsimile machines have various functions, such as an image capturingfunction, a printing function, a communication function, a multi-copyingfunction, an auto-answer function, a memory transmission function, ascheduled/delayed transmission function and so on. With the imagecapturing function, a document to be transmitted can be read by means ofa scanner. The printing function refers to a printing capability inwhich image data received from a remote facsimile machine can be printedon a recording paper. The communication function is essential for thefacsimile machine. By this function, image data can be transmitted to aremote facsimile machine and incoming image data can be received. Themulti-copying function is capable of generating plural sets of copies ofthe original documents upon reading the original documents with thescanner. When the facsimile machine is set to the auto-answer mode, anincoming voice message (voice data) and/or image data from the remotefacsimile machine or other data communicating device is stored in thememory of the called facsimile machine in the form of a digital signal.The image data is later printed on a recording paper and the voicemessage is also later reproduced from a speaker. The memory transmissionis performed by storing image data in a memory prior to transmission andthen transmitting the image data stored therein to the remote facsimilemachine. The scheduled/delayed transmission is for scheduling a time offacsimile transmissions. If an operator scans a document into amemory-equipped machine and programs it to dial up and transmit thedocument at a specific time or after a certain period of time haspassed, the operator can enjoy the ultimate in unattended facsimileoperation.

Control programs for the various functions of the facsimile machine andfor data transfer between the facsimile machine and its associatedpersonal computer are stored in a read-only memory (ROM) equipped in thefacsimile machine. Accordingly, increase of the facsimile functionsrequires that a ROM with an increased amount of a storage capacity beequipped in the facsimile machine. This leads to an increase of cost formanufacturing the facsimile machine. Once the facsimile machine isdelivered to customers, altering the control programs contained in theROM or offering a version-up services to the customers are difficult formany reasons.

The recent facsimile machines are provided with a help function forgenerating information so that a user can learn how to use the variousfunctions. Like the control programs, an amount of help data forimplementing the help function increases as the number of facsimilefunctions increases. The increased amount of help data requires a memoryof a large storage capacity. This also increases the cost of thefacsimile machine. There is a further problem in such facsimile machinethat a liquid crystal display equipped in the facsimile machine is toosmall to display a lengthy message. Therefore, fully descriptiveinformation to each help item cannot be provided. One possible solutionto this problem would be printing out the descriptive information onrecording papers using the print function of the facsimile machine.However, the help data stored in the memory of the facsimile machine israther simplified in its contents because the limited storage capacityof the facsimile memory does not allow to store a large amount of helpdata. Therefore, the information is not so detailed as to satisfy theuser even if it is printed out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-describedinconveniences. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a facsimile system which releases the burden on a facsimilememory and effectively uses a storage area of a hard disk of a personalcomputer connected to the facsimile machine.

To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided a facsimilesystem which includes a facsimile machine, a data processing device, anda support control means. In use, the facsimile machine and the dataprocessing device, which may be a personal computer, are connected toeach other. The facsimile machine has a first storage device and thedata processing device has a second storage device which may be a harddisk. The facsimile machine is provided with a variety of functions,each of which is available when a corresponding application software isprovided. Examples of functions of the facsimile machine include animage capturing function, a printing function, a communication function,a multi-copying function, an auto-answer function, a memory transmissionfunction, a scheduled/delayed function. In the present invention, aservice station is provided which supplies a variety of applicationsoftwares relating to the variety of functions. The support controlmeans is provided for controlling the second data storage device tostore at least one application software supplied from the servicestation when a communication link is established between the facsimilemachine and the service station. The facsimile machine achieves afunction in accordance with the application software supplied from theservice station and stored in the second storage device.

The support control means may be provided either in the facsimilemachine or in the service station. In the former case, the applicationsoftware is downloaded and installed in the second storage device inaccordance with a request of the facsimile machine. In the latter case,the support control means is provided in the service station, whereinthe service station makes a call to the facsimile machine at everypredetermined interval to establish the communication link between thefacsimile machine and the service station whereupon the support controlmeans downloads and installs the application software in the secondstorage device in accordance with a request of the service station.

It is preferable that the first storage device store an identificationcode of the facsimile machine. The facsimile machine sends theidentification code to the service station when the facsimile machinerequests the service station to supply the application software. Theservice station stores identification codes of registered facsimilemachines and verifies the identification code received from thefacsimile machine with those stored in the service station to determinethat the identification code received from the facsimile machine isvalid. The service station sends the application software when theidentification code is valid.

It is also preferable that the facsimile machine supply a versioninformation of an application software which has been stored in thesecond storage device to the service station. Then, the service stationdetermines a relevant application software to be sent to the facsimilemachine based on the version information supplied from the facsimilemachine. A display unit may be provided to display an updated versioninformation.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the secondstorage device of the data processing device stores help list dataregarding the variety of functions. When a help key is depressed, a helplist is generated based on the help list data stored in the second datastorage device. The help list is generated by one of the printingsection and display unit of the facsimile machine or by one of theprinting section and display unit of the data processing device. Basichelp list data is stored in the first storage device and is generated bythe display unit of the facsimile machine to indicate the basic helplist when the facsimile machine and the personal computer aredisconnected from each other.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, acontrol means is provided for controlling the second storage device tostore a facsimile transaction information when the control means detectsthat the facsimile machine and the data processing device are connectedto each other. When the control means detects that the facsimile machineand the data processing device are disconnected from each other, thecontrol means further controls the first storage device to store thefacsimile transaction information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a facsimile system including afacsimile machine and a personal computer mutually connected to eachother;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a facsimile machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a personal computer;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a facsimile system connected to aservice station;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an application software installationprocess according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an application software installationprocess according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a help list generating processaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a string process of a communicationsinteractive information according to a forth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A facsimile system to which the present invention is applied willfirstly be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. The term“facsimile system” as used herein is intended to mean a combination of afacsimile machine 1 and a personal computer 2 mutually connected to eachother with a cable 4 as shown in FIG. 1. In the following description,the facsimile machine 1 will be described as a calling side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1 has an input/outputinterface (I/O port) 3 connected to the personal computer 2 with thecable 4. The input/output interface 3 may be a serial interface such asRS-232C, or a parallel interface. The facsimile machine 1 includes anetwork controller unit (NCU) 5 that is connected through a telephoneline 6 to a telephone switchboard 7. As shown in FIG. 4, anotherfacsimile machine 9, which will be described as a receiving side, and aservice station 8 are also connected to the telephone switchboards 7 sothat the two facsimile machines 1 and 9 are communicable with each otherthrough a telephone line and also the facsimile machine 1 is accessibleto the service station 8. Although not shown in FIG. 4, another personalcomputer equipped with a facsimile board modem may also be connected tothe telephone switchboard 7.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 10 which is connected to various components to bedescribed later with signal bus lines. The CPU 10 controls itsassociated components in accordance with a predetermined communicationcontrol sequence and executes data communication, that is, facsimiletransmission and reception.

A modem 11 executes a data communication function under the aegis of theCPU 10. Specifically, the modem 11 modulates image data in the form ofdigital signal to an analog signal and transmits the latter signal to aremote facsimile or personal computer through the NCU 5 and thetelephone line 6. The modem 11 also demodulates the incoming analogsignal received through the telephone line 6 and the NCU 5 to a digitalsignal. Other than modulation and demodulation, the modem 11 sends toand receives from the remote facsimile machine various kinds oftransmission control signals.

The CPU 10 is connected through the bus to a buffer memory 12, aread-only memory (ROM) 13 storing control programs therein, anelectrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) 14, arandom access memory (RAM) 15 temporarily storing various kinds of data,a CCD scanner 16 executing an image capturing function, an operationpanel 21 provided with a liquid crystal display (LCD) 22, a printer 18executing a printing function, an encoding section 17, a decodingsection 20, and an image memory 19.

The buffer memory 12 has a plurality of storage areas including atransmission buffer memory 12 a and a reception buffer memory 12 b fortemporarily storing coded image data transmitted to the called sidefacsimile machine 9 and received from the calling side facsimile machine9 along with various kinds of data accompanying the coded image data,reception commands, telephone numbers and names of the subscribers ofthe called side facsimile machines, and the like. The EEPROM 14 has asingle-key number storing area 14 a, a calling side telephone numberstoring area 14 b, a communication condition storing area 14 c, afunction storing area 14 d for storing data and various functionprograms such as a communication mode program, a time storing area 14 efor storing incoming and outgoing fax transmission times, and acommunication managing information storing area 14 f for storingcommunication records. Those storing areas store data regarding dialnumbers (telephone numbers) and the names of the subscribers of calledside facsimile machines together with single-key numbers for speeddialing, and various kinds of set data for allowing the user to selectwhether or not the name of the subscriber of the calling side facsimilemachine is registered, a fax transaction report is generated,communications report is printed, or to set a calling bell volume, andto set a volume of the speaker equipped with the facsimile machine 1.The EEPROM 14 is a non-volatile memory so that its storing contents arenot lost even if the facsimile machine 1 is power down.

The RAM 15 is used to temporarily store various kinds of data at a timeof execution of a prescribed operation. The RAM 15 has a voice/imagestoring area 15 a for storing voice data and image data received fromthe remote facsimile machine when the called side facsimile machine 1 isset to an auto-answer mode. The data is stored therein in a digitalform. The CCD scanner 16 is for capturing images on an original documentand produces image data. The image data is encoded by the encoder 17 andthe resultant data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 12 andthen transmitted. A modified READ or MR method is used for a redundancycompression coding. According to such method, the image data is encodedin view of statistic property of run-length, i.e., the duration of whitesignal or black signal, of the image data.

The printer 18 carries out printing of the received image data on arecording paper by way of an electro-photographic recording method or athermal printing method. In the electro-photographic recording, a latentimage is formed on a photosensitive drum by irradiating a laser beamthereonto in accordance with the image data and the latent image isdeveloped using toner particles. The toner image is transferred onto therecording paper and thermally fixed by a thermal fixing device. In thethermal printing method, the image is printed on a thermal-sensitivepaper with a thermal head.

The facsimile machine 1 has a copying capability wherein an originaldocument can be copied using the CCD scanner 16 and the printer 18.Copying can be made in two modes, a multi-copy mode and a sort copymode. The multi-copy mode makes a desired number of copies for eachoriginal document. The sort copy mode sorts the pages of each of pluralsets of copies in an order of the pages in the original documents.

The image data received from the remote facsimile machine and dot datafor generating print outputs are stored in an image memory 19 which maybe a dynamic RAM (DRAM). In a normal fax reception operation in whichfax transmission and reception are taken place at a real time, the imagedata is received after exchanging signals according to a predeterminedcommunication control sequence between the called facsimile machine 1and the calling facsimile machine 9 or personal computer 8. The imagedata is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 12 in the form of ananalog signal. The image data stored therein is decoded (expanded) bythe decoder 20. The resultant data is developed into a dot image andwritten into the bit image storing area of the image memory 19 so as toprint the image on a page basis. The dot image stored in the imagememory 19 is developed into bits of a predetermined resolution and theresultant data is sent to the printer 18 for printing on a page basis.

At a time of a memory reception in the facsimile machine, the image datareceived from the remote facsimile machine is temporarily stored in theimage memory 19 upon compressing it. When the received image data isprinted, it is developed into the bits of the predetermined resolutionand separately stored in the image memory 19. The image data receivedwhen the facsimile machine 2 is in the memory reception mode can betransmitted to an external storage device 39 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) toprocess the received image data in the personal computer 2. The same istrue with respect to the image data stored in the voice/image storingarea of the RAM 15 when the facsimile machine is in an auto-answer mode.

When the facsimile transmission is made, the original document to besent is read by the CCD scanner 16, and the image data output from theCCD scanner 16 is encoded and the resultant data is sent to the remotefacsimile machine. When the image data is sent by a memory transmission,the encoded image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 19 andautomatically transmitted to the destination shortly thereafter or at aspecified time. A scheduled/delayed transmission (timer transmission) isperformed when there is a time lag between two places where acommunication link is established or when a group transmission isperformed wherein the same original document is sent to a plurality ofsubscribers.

The image data input from the personal computer 2 has already beenencoded, so it can be transmitted to the remote facsimile machine aftertemporarily storing it in the image memory 19. The operation panel 20provided in the facsimile machine 1 or 9 has a display 22 such as aliquid crystal display for displaying operation conditions of thefacsimile machine. The operation panel 20 also has numeral keys 23,function keys 24, and one-touch registration key 25 as shown in FIG. 1.Registration for a memory dialing is performed by entering the telephonenumber and the name of a called party through depressing the numeralkeys 23 and the function keys 24, and then depressing the one-touchregistration key 25. A predetermined function key is depressed to send ahelp command to the personal computer 2 when a help function to bedescribed later is used.

The facsimile machine 1 further includes a voice LSI 26 for storing ananswer voice message that is sent out when answering to the incomingcall in the auto-answer mode, an amplifier 27 and speaker forreproducing the incoming voice message recorded during the auto-answermode, and a reproduction key (not shown) for generating an instructionto reproduce the recorded messages.

As shown in FIG. 3, the personal computer 2 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 30, a ROM 31 storing control programs, a RAM 32for storing various kinds of data, an input/output port (interface) 33and a floppy disk driver 40. To the personal computer 2 are connectedvarious peripheral components such as a keyboard 34, a mouse 35, a CRTdisplay 36, a printer 37, left and right speakers 38 a and 38 b, thefacsimile machine 1, the external storage device 39 such as a hard disk.A liquid crystal display may be used in place of the CRT display 36.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the service station 8 stores applicationsoftwares relating to control programs. The control programs executevarious functions of the facsimile machine 1. The control programs aredeveloped by a manufacturer of the facsimile machine 1. Version-upapplication softwares are stored in the service station 8.

The ROM 13 of the facsimile machine 1 stores a basic control program fortransmission and reception of data to and from the telephone line 6 andalso stores a data transfer control program for a data transfer betweenthe facsimile machine 1 and the personal computer 2. The control programof the facsimile machine 1 is pre-installed in the hard disk 39 of thepersonal computer 2. The facsimile machine 1 is operated to execute aparticular function in accordance with a corresponding control programstored in the hard disk 39 of the personal computer 2.

The CPU 10 of the facsimile machine 1 serves as a support control meansfor downloading the application software supplied from the servicestation 8 and installing the same in the hard disk 39 of the personalcomputer 2. The EEPROM 14 or the ROM 13 of the facsimile machine 1stores an identification (ID) code of its own facsimile machine 1 thatcorresponds to a manufacture number attached to the facsimile machine 1by the manufacturer. The ID code is given to the purchaser who boughtthe facsimile machine 1 when he or she is registered as the user of thefacsimile machine 1 in the manufacturing company or a sales servicecompany. The registration ID code is stored in the service station 8 andalso informed to the user. In this case, the user has to store theregistration ID code to the EEPROM 14 while referring to an operationguide book. The user is capable of knowing the telephone number of theservice station 8 from the operation manual.

Referring next to the flowchart of FIG. 5, a download/installationprocess will be described for downloading an application software fromthe service station 8 and installing the same in the hard disk 39 of thepersonal computer 2.

The routine starts upon powering the facsimile machine 1 and thepersonal computer 2. Initially, determination is made as to whether ornot the personal computer 2 and the facsimile machine 1 are mutuallyconnected (S1). When the personal computer 2 and the facsimile machine 1are connected (S1: Yes) and thus data communication therebetween ispossible, the user dials the service station 8 from the facsimilemachine 1 (S2). This can be automatically accomplished by a programstored in the facsimile machine 1.

When the facsimile machine 1 and the service station are connected (S3:Yes), the facsimile machine 1 sends out its own registration ID code tothe service station (S4). Upon receipt of the registration ID code, theservice station 8 checks if the received ID code is valid by verifyingthe received ID code with registered ID codes stored in the servicestation 8. If determination is made that the received ID code is valid(S5: Yes), the service station 8 sends at least one application softwareto the facsimile machine 1 (S6). By the operation of the CPU 10 actingas a support control means, the application software is downloaded inthe hard disk 39 of the personal computer 2 (S7). When sending theapplication software is complete (S8: Yes), the telephone line isdisconnected (S9) whereupon the personal computer 1 installs thedownloaded software in its hard disk 39. In S5, if determination is madeso that the received ID code is invalid (S5: No), the telephone line 6is disconnected (S11) and the communication is terminated.

A modification can be made so that after execution of S5, the facsimilemachine 1 sends to the service station 8 information on a version of theapplication software that has been stored in the facsimile machine 1(S12) and then the service station 8 sends a relevant applicationsoftware to the facsimile machine 1 based on the information suppliedfrom the facsimile machine 1 (S13). By supplementing these two steps, anirrelevant software will not eventually be sent to the facsimile machine1. Therefore, superfluous data transfer will not be performed and thus acommunication time can be minimized.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 pertains to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. The routine starts when both the facsimile machine 1and the personal computer 2 are powered. Based on the ID codes andtelephone numbers, the service station 8 connects the telephone line tothe facsimile machines at a regular interval (S20). Upon connection to afacsimile machine 1, the ID code stored in the facsimile machine 1 andthat stored in the service station 8 are compared to determine that thetwo ID codes are in coincidence with each other (S21). If the two IDcodes are not in coincidence with each other (S21: No), the telephoneline 6 is disconnected (S22) whereupon the routine is ended. When thetwo ID codes are in coincidence with each other, i.e., when thefacsimile machine 1 has a valid ID code (S21: Yes), determination ismade as to whether or not the facsimile machine 1 and the personalcomputer 2 are connected (S23). When the facsimile machine 1 and thepersonal computer 2 are not connected (S23: No), the telephone line isdisconnected (S22), whereupon the routine is ended.

When the facsimile machine 1 and the personal computer 2 are connected(S23: Yes), the service station 8 interrogates the facsimile machine 1the version of the application software stored in the personal computer2 (S24). The service station 8 sends an appropriate application softwareto the facsimile machine 1 (S25). Under the aegis of the CPU 10 of thepersonal computer 2, the application software thus received from theservice station 8 is stored in the hard disk 39 of the personal computer2. When sending the application software is complete (S27: Yes), thetelephone line 6 is disconnected (S28) and the downloaded applicationsoftware is installed in the personal computer 2 so as to be usable(S29).

The user can obtain the updated application software if the servicestation 8 performs such an automatic software support service. It isdesirable that the display 36 displays a message that the version-upapplication software is running and also an operation guidance on howthe new application software is to be used. By so doing, erroneousoperation of the new application software can be prevented.

In the second embodiment, either the CPU 10 of the facsimile machine 1or the CPU 30 of the personal computer 2 may act as the support controlmeans. Facsimile machines may be sold on the market with a floppy diskstoring only a control program relating to a data transfer between thefacsimile machine 1 and the personal computer 2. In this case, theapplication software for various functions of the facsimile machine 1 issupplied to the purchaser from the service station 8 in a manner asdescribed above.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. The third embodimentpertains to a help list generating process. When a user depresses a helpkey to know how to set and how to use various functions of the facsimilemachine, a help list is indicated on the display 36 of the personalcomputer 2. The help list can be printed out from the printer 37 of thepersonal computer 2 or the printer 18 of the facsimile machine 1. Dataregarding the help list and a program (application software) formanipulation of the help list are stored in a floppy disk. A facsimilemachine is sold on the market with the floppy disk. The help list dataand the program supplied by the floppy disk are installed in the harddisk 39 of the personal computer 2 in a manner known in the art. A basichelp list has been stored in the EEPROM 14 of the facsimile machine.

Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, when the user depresses thehelp key on the facsimile machine 1 (S31), a connection confirmationcommand is sent from the facsimile machine 1 to the personal computer 2to determine that the personal compute 2 is connected to the facsimilemachine 1 (S32). When the determination is made so that the personalcomputer 2 is connected to the facsimile machine 1 (S32: Yes), whetheror not the personal computer 2 is powered is determined (S33). When thepersonal computer 2 is powered (S33: Yes), data regarding the help listas stored in the hard disk 39 of the personal computer 2 is transferredto the facsimile machine 1 to print the help list on a recording paperwith the printer 18 (S34). Alternatively, the help list may be displayedon the display 36 of the personal computer 2 or printed out using theprinter 37 on part of the personal computer 2. The help list may also bedisplayed in the LCD 22 on the operation panel 21 of the facsimilemachine 1.

To shorten the transmission time, it is desirable not to download thehelp list which has already been downloaded from the personal computer2. However, when the memory in which the help list data is stored isalso used as a buffer, downloading the help list again must be permittedbecause the help list data may be damaged for some reasons.

When the personal compute 2 and the facsimile machine 1 are notconnected (S32: No) and when the personal compute 2 is not powered (S33:No), the basic help list stored in the facsimile machine 1 is printedwith the printer 18 or displayed on the LCD 22.

A modification of the third embodiment may be made so that the help listdata stored in the hard disk 39 is displayed on the display 36 of thepersonal computer 2 or printed on a recording paper using the printer 37when the help key on the keyboard 34 of the personal computer 2 isdepressed.

With the third embodiment of the present invention, the user can readilyobtain a detailed help list. It is no longer necessary for the user toconsult a guide book as is done conventionally. Further, whereas only abasic help list was available in a conventional facsimile machine,detailed help list can become available with the facsimile system of thethird embodiment. It is no longer necessary to store a large amount ofdata regarding the help list in the memory (such as, EEPROM 14) of thefacsimile machine 1 but is stored in the hard disk 39 of the personalcomputer 2. This is possible because recent personal computers areequipped with a hard disk of a large storage capacity. By making use ofthe residual storage area of the hard disk 39, the manufacturing cost ofthe facsimile machine 1 can be reduced.

It is preferable that a color ink jet printer be used in the printer ofthe facsimile machine 1 and the personal computer 2 becausecolor-printed help list is more comprehensive than a monochromaticprinting.

A forth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 8 which pertains to a data storing process of afacsimile transaction information. After the start of this process, eachtime when data transmission to or data reception from a remote facsimilemachine is over (S41), whether or not the facsimile machine 1 isconnected to the personal computer 2 is determined (S42). When thefacsimile machine 1 is connected to the personal computer 2 (S42: Yes),whether or not the personal compute 2 is powered is determined (S43).When the personal computer 2 is powered (S43: Yes), the facsimiletransaction information are transferred to and stored in the hard disk39 of the personal computer 2. The facsimile transaction informationincludes year/month/day and time data on the transmission and reception,name and telephone number of the calling or called party, communicationtime involved, number of sheets transmitted or received, andtransmission mode.

If the facsimile machine 1 is not connected to the personal computer 1(S42: No) or if the personal computer 1 is not powered (S43: No), thefacsimile transaction information is stored in the communicationsmanaging data storing area 14 f of the facsimile machine 2 (S45).Transfer of the facsimile transaction information to the personalcomputer 2 may be carried out whenever the transmission or reception iscomplete or at a regular interval.

The storage capacity of the communication managing information storingarea 14 f is not so large. Typically, only several tens of pieces offacsimile transaction information can be stored therein. When theinformation to be stored therein exceeded the storage capacity of thearea 14 f, the data therein are erased in a first-in first-out fashionto thereby allow newest data to be stored therein. Therefore, if the olddata wants to be retained for a long time, the hard disk of the personalcompute 2 is utilized to store the data.

When the facsimile transaction information is generated by the facsimilemachine 1, it may be displayed one by one on the LCD 22, or printed outon a recording paper at every predetermined interval, or a predeterminednumber of pieces of information may be printed out on the recordingpaper at a time. The facsimile transaction information stored in thehard disk 39 of the personal computer 2 may be uniquely managed by amanaging application software. For example, the transmission results andthe reception results may be separately managed. Or, the data may becollected from the accumulated facsimile transaction informationaccording to the customers, the department to which the facsimilemessage is addressed, the number of transmissions and receptions made ina month, etc. These pieces of information can be printed with theprinter 37 at the side of the personal computer 2. The facsimiletransaction information can thus be effectively used if stored in thememory or hard disk 39 of the personal computer 2.

While some exemplary embodiments of this invention have been describedin detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are manypossible modifications and variations which may be made in theseexemplary embodiments while yet retaining many of the novel features andadvantages of the invention.

1. A facsimile system, comprising: a facsimile machine having aninput/output interface, a storage device, a printing section, and adisplay unit, said facsimile machine being provided with a variety offunctions; a personal computer connected to said input/output interfaceof said facsimile machine, said personal computer having a data storagedevice storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use thevariety of functions of the facsimile machine, a printing section, and adisplay unit, said personal computer generating a help list based on thehelp list data when requested by a user; and a help key through whichthe user inputs a command for requesting the help list.
 2. The facsimilesystem according to claim 1, wherein the help list generated by thepersonal computer is printed out by said printing section of saidfacsimile machine.
 3. The facsimile system according to claim 1, whereinthe help list generated by the personal computer is displayed on saiddisplay unit of said facsimile machine.
 4. The facsimile systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the help list is printed out by saidprinting section of said personal computer.
 5. The facsimile systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the help list is displayed on said displayunit of said personal computer to indicate the help list thereon.
 6. Thefacsimile system according to claim 1, wherein basic help list data isstored in said storage device of the facsimile machine and a basic helplist is printed out by said printing section of said facsimile machinewhen said facsimile machine and said personal computer are disconnectedfrom each other.
 7. The facsimile system according to claim 1, whereinbasic help list data is stored in said storage device and a basic helplist is generated by said display unit of said facsimile machine toindicate the basic help list when said facsimile machine and saidpersonal computer are not connected to each other.
 8. A printing system,comprising: a printer having an input/output interface, a storagedevice, a printing section, and a display unit, said printer beingprovided with a variety of functions; a personal computer connected tosaid input/output interface of said printer, said personal computerhaving a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to setand how to use the variety of functions of the printer, a printingsection, and a display unit, said personal computer generating a helplist based on the help list data when requested by a user; and a helpkey through which the user inputs a command for requesting the helplist.
 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the help listgenerated by the personal computer is printed out by said printingsection of said printer.
 10. The printing system according to claim 8,wherein the help list generated by the personal computer is displayed onsaid display unit of said printer.
 11. The printing system according toclaim 8, wherein the help list is printed out by said printing sectionof said personal computer.
 12. The printing system according to claim 8,wherein the help list is displayed on said display unit of said personalcomputer to indicate the help list thereon.
 13. The printing systemaccording to claim 8, wherein basic help list data is stored in saidstorage device of the printer and a basic help list is printed out bysaid printing section of said printer when said printer and saidpersonal computer are disconnected from each other.
 14. The printingsystem according to claim 8, wherein basic help list data is stored insaid storage device and a basic help list is generated by said displayunit of said printer to indicate the basic help list when said printerand said personal computer are not connected to each other.
 15. Aperipheral device having at least one function, the peripheral devicebeing capable of connecting with a host device having a data storagedevice storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the atleast one function of the peripheral device, the peripheral devicecomprising: an input/output interface connectable to the host device; ahelp key through which a user inputs a command for requesting the helplist; a read unit that reads out the help list data stored in the datastorage device of the host device via the input/output interface whenthe peripheral device is connected to the host device and when requestedby operating the help key by the user; and a display unit that shows ahelp list based on the help list data read from the host device via theinput/output interface when the peripheral device is connected to thehost device.
 16. The peripheral device according to claim 15, whereinthe display unit includes a printer that prints out the help list on arecording medium when the peripheral device is connected to the hostdevice.
 17. The peripheral device according to claim 15, wherein thedisplay unit includes a display device that visually displays the helplist thereon when the peripheral device is connected to the host device.18. The peripheral device according to claim 15, further comprising astorage device that stores a basic help list data, wherein the displayunit shows the basic help list when the peripheral device and the hostdevice are disconnected from each other upon when requested by the useroperating the help key.
 19. A host device capable of connecting with aperipheral device having at least one function and a help key throughwhich a user inputs a command for requesting a help list, the hostdevice comprising: an input/output interface connectable to theperipheral device; a data storage device storing help list dataregarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of theperipheral device; a read unit that reads out the help list data storedin the data storage device when requested by operating the help key bythe user when the host device is connected to the peripheral device; anda display unit that shows a help list based on the help list data readfrom the data storage device when the host device is connected to theperipheral device.
 20. The host device according to claim 19, whereinthe display unit includes a printer that prints out the help list on arecording medium when the host device is connected to the peripheraldevice.
 21. The host device according to claim 19, where in the displayunit includes a display device that visually displays the help thereonwhen the host device is connected to the peripheral device.
 22. Aperipheral device having at least one function, the peripheral devicebeing capable of communicating with a host device having a data storagedevice storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the atleast one function of the peripheral device, the peripheral devicecomprising: an input/output interface communicable to the host device; ahelp key through which a user inputs a command for requesting a helplist; a read unit that reads out the help list data stored in the datastorage device of the host device via the input/output interface whenthe peripheral device communicates to the host device when requested byoperating the help key by the user; and a display unit that shows a helplist based on the help list data read from the host device via theinput/output interface when the peripheral device communicates to thehost device.